A decade after his wildly successful Suite No. 1 had been adopted by classical flutists everywhere, the seemingly inexhaustible
Claude Bolling produced a sequel for flutist
Jean-Pierre Rampal that, like many sequels, isn't quite as memorable as the original inspiration. At 51 minutes, the second
Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio is lengthier and more sophisticated than the first -- it's one of
Bolling's longest suites, period -- but there aren't very many new ideas that grab the ear. Occasionally, as in "Entr'amis," an old idea from the Suite No. 1 is reworked, and there are allusions to
George Shearing,
Bud Powell, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, etc.
Bolling and his rhythm section (Pierre-Yves Sorin, bass; Vincent Cordelette, drums) continue to play both idioms against each other with facility and ease.
Rampal treats the music with loving care, even lining up with
Bolling's right hand with remarkable precision in the rapid unison theme for "Jazzy" and tossing off a simulated improvisation and "trading" fours with
Bolling later in that movement. Overall, though, this may be one suite too many for the
Bolling classical/jazz juggernaut. ~ Richard S. Ginell